In early January, while the rest of the consumer technology world at CES marveled at the sheer size of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy tablet, Google execs were dismayed by what they saw on the screen of the massive 12.1-inch slate - a fancy new user interface called Magazine UX.

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Multiple sources familiar with the companies' thinking say the two technology giants began hammering out a series of broad agreements at CES that would bring Samsung's view of Android in line with Google's own. The results of the talks, which have only just begun dribbling out to the public, also underscore the extent to which Google is exerting more of its influence to control its destiny in the Android open source world.

Dilemma. I don't like Google exerting control in this manner, but, on the other hand, anything that - for the love of god - makes Samsung stop building its own software for phones is a good thing. Tough call. Then again, this deal may also simply be another aspect of the big patent deal, indicating that this deal is about much more than patents alone.

In any case, the recent renewed collaboration between Google and Samsung seems to indicate that Samsung has little to no intention to move away from Android, and with Samsung still shipping exactly zero Tizen devices, I have little hope we'll ever see that platform jump front and centre.

Neither Samsung nor Google is really bothered with Apple anymore: they outsell iPhone in almost every country, perhaps with USA as exception. Apple refusal to license his OS for other manufacturers only means they will become increasingly niche.

Personally, i bet Microsoft as a more serious competition for now on, simple due they relentless insistence to push WP forward despite all negative results so far. Eventually they will get it right.

And Samsung does not need to go for Tizen: they could very well just fork Android.

I think the reason for this patent deal to be less threatening than your post suggest: Samsung is the biggest Android phone maker, and Google is doing a exceptional job leading Android development, so it is logical to expect closer collaboration between those two companies.

I don't believe there is anyone in Google or Samsung management that takes seriously the possibility of a split between the companies.

The other exception besides the USA would be Japan, where Apple does very well.

I agree that Google might not be bothered by Apple, but I would disagree about Samsung. Samsung sells the hardware, but they don't have an ecosystem. What Apple does when someone buys a iPhone or iPad is they pull them into the Apple ecosystem, which generates revenue. This includes music (iTunes), video (iTunes), iCloud, App Store, and payment processing (which they will expand into more soon). So by Google and Samsung working together they both win. Google gets more people using their services on some of the top selling mobile devices (no more Tizen), and Samsung wins since they get an ecosystem to match Apple which gives customers more reason to buy their phones, plus I wouldn't be surprised if Google is not giving them some type of kick back (besides patent access). Google doesn't have to deal with or spend money on hardware, but instead stick to the software services side where they make all their money. So both companies win in this agreement. I think the next company to make the same agreement with Google will be Lenovo's Motorola unit. So in the end the biggest winner will be Google, and I think the idea of Tizen running on the most popular phones (Samsung) drove Google into this agreement.

I think Microsoft has potential, but they are still lacking in the apps department. I would have considered a Windows phone myself, but they didn't have my banking app, VOIP app, and a couple other apps I must have which were available on Android and iPhone, so I couldn't buy one (I ended up getting a Nexus 5). The one big advantage Microsoft has over even Apple and Google (for now), is the Xbox (why they made the SmartGlass mobile app). Microsoft really has the most potential because they have a large ecosystem that covers a lot of what both Google and Apple have. Of course Apple might counter this soon with a AppleTV that offers games (with bluetooth controller sync), and who knows, maybe a PlayStaion Now client when that comes out this year. I do hope Microsoft gains more market share, competetion is always a great thing to have.

Samsung is not threatened by Apple, nor is Apple threatened by Samsung. There is place for several winners in such a big market, at least one for each successful ecosystem (Android, iOS and arguably WP). The question here is just which ecosystems are and will remain successful.

Competition is however strong withing a given ecosystem. Samsung is thus threatened mostly by the rise of other Android OEM, especially Chinese OEM such as Lenovo or Huawei and until now, potentially by Google/Motorola.

With the recent moves between Google/Motorola, Samsung and Lenovo, Google gives up its OEM status in order to please its partners because Samsung and others were obviously not happy to see the platform owner being also a competitor. A lot of conflicts of interest here.

For me, selling Motorola to Lenovo, the #3 smartphone manufacturer, is a way for Google to lessen Samsung domination on the Android platform.

The recent moves from Google are a sign that they are trying to keep a tight control over the Android platform.

While many want to see a platform war between Apple and Google/Samsung, I think that there is no war here: Apple only want to keep its platform very profitable and fight fiercely to defend their "walled garden". But Apple doesn't try to expand this garden much and Google is for sure fine with their 80% share.

But there is a war between Android OEM (Samsung being the king until now). Google was participating with Motorola, but today, Google decided to step back and in the future, they will encourage the Android war so as no Android OEM can threaten the Android platform which would be a potential disaster for them.